Religion can't be thrust upon a child, says HC

MUMBAI: Observing that religion cannot be thrust upon a child, the Bombay high court has rejected a plea to hand over the custody of a three-year-old girl, born to a Christian father and Hindu mother, to her paternal family who wanted to raise her as a Roman Catholic.

The matter pertained to a minor girl whose father had fatally stabbed his wife and was behind bars. The father, his sister and the girl's maternal grand father had filed guardianship petitions seeking custody of the child. The girl's father and aunt submitted that they wanted the child to be raised as a Roman Catholic. They said Catholic rituals must be performed and she must attend a convent school.